It’s been a quarter century since Benjamin Sisko arrived at one of the Federation’s most remote outposts—Deep Space 9—and began a journey of self discovery that would turn the Star Trek model on its head. Overshadowed by The Next Generation and then Voyager, Deep Space Nine quietly flew under the radar and developed into a series that would later emerge as what many consider the franchise’s crown jewel. It’s a show that fans are rediscovering—and some are discovering for the first time—in this age of streaming and binge-watching. And it has stood the test of time in a remarkable way.

In this episode of The Ready Room, C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek look back at 25 years of Deep Space Nine, discussing its development, premiere, the roles of Rick Berman and Michael Piller, why the love fans have for the show continues to grow, and much more.

In our news segment, we consider the camaraderie of past Star Trek casts in light of Jonathan Frakes’s comments about the crew of Discovery, check out the 4-disc La-La Land Records Deep Space Nine Volume 2 Limited Edition music collection, and remember Jon Paul Steuer, the actor who played young Alexander on The Next Generation. Plus, Larry has a special announcement about activity detected in Trekland.

Sometimes actions can have unexpected consequences. Such was the case in The Original Series when Kirk convinced Mirror Spock to turn the Terran Empire from evil to good. Only he didn’t know it. Kirk had the best intentions, but maybe there was a reason the Terrans were the way they were. We learned the result of Kirk’s speech in the Deep Space Nine episode “Crossover,” the first of many trips to the Mirror Universe for the DS9 crew.

In this episode of The Ready Room, we’re joined by Zachary Fruhling, Rumman Chowdhury, and Brandon-Shea Mutala to discuss the first onscreen foray into the Mirror Universe since TOS. Beginning with Kirk’s actions, we continue on to explore the disastrous consequences his words had for the humans of this universe, how oppression impacts lives, and how sexuality can be used to wield power over others. We also discuss various DS9 characters and their mirror counterparts, and how circumstances bring out different traits.

Plus, in our news segment we discuss the lineup of events and panels scheduled for Star Trek: Mission New York.

We know that Odo has a colored past. He held the post of security chief under the regime of Gul Dukat during the occupation of Bajor. As an outsider, he would seem to be the ideal candidate to protect the Bajorans from unchecked Cardassian brutality. But while he sees himself as the voice of justice, a strict adherence to policy can lead to wrong decisions. That’s what happened when he allowed three innocent Bajorans to be executed on his watch.

In this episode of The Ready Room, we’re joined Mike Schindler, Mike Morrison, and Brandon-Shea Mutala to discuss the delayed aftermath of that event in the episode “Things Past.” It’s a unique semi-flashback story that puts Odo in the shoes of one of the executed men—along with Sisko and Garak. Join us as we discuss Odo’s choices, how DS9 builds its mythology, Quark during the Occupation, Kira’s powerful moment, and much more.

Plus, in our news segment, we discuss the writing team for the new Star Trek television series as well as the many flavors of Star Trek Beyond that are headed to theaters—including IMAX, IMAX Laser, Dolby Cinema, and the very unique Barco Escape.

News The Star Trek 2017 Writing Team (00:03:05) The Various Star Trek Beyond Film Formats (00:17:02)

Events in Star Trek—even tragic ones—rarely have lasting
consequences. Deep Space Nine changed that with arcs that took
place during the Dominion War. In particular, in the final season,
Nog’s injuries in battle led to a deep exploration of the lasting
impact of a single moment in time—and they did it with the usual
DS9 mix of serious commentary and humor.

In this episode of The Ready Room, we’re joined by Zachary
Fruhling and Matthew Rushing to discuss Nog’s retreat to the
holosuite, his struggle to come to terms with the physical and
emotional damage of his experiences in “The Siege of AR-558,” and
the counseling tag-team of Ezri Dax and Vic Fontaine who brought
him back to reality.

In our news segment, we discuss additional shooting (reported as
reshoots by most media) for Star Trek Beyond, a special agreement
between CBS and Paramount that dictated a six-month post-film
waiting period for Star Trek’s return to TV, and Rod Roddenberry
joining the new series as Executive Producer.

At the end of its first season, Deep Space Nine really began to
take on the form that would define the series. The writers wanted
to follow up the powerful “Duet” with something even better, even
more layered. To do this, they brought together the Federation’s
scientific approach to the world and the Bajorans’ religious one.
The clash of philosophies tells us a lot about our own world as
well as Gene Roddenberry’s vision for Star Trek. And it introduced
us to one of Star Trek’s great villains.

In this episode of The Ready Room, we’re joined by Will Nguyen,
Mike Morrison, and Ken Tripp to discuss DS9’s first-season finale,
“In the Hands of the Prophets,” the introduction of Winn and
Bareil, handling religion on Star Trek, Keiko the grumpy, Sisko the
mediator, and much more.

In our news segment, we discuss the comments of Paramount’s
Motion Picture Group president Marc Evan about a possible grittier
future for Star Trek, and Dayton Ward’s upcoming travel guide that
will get you ready for your visit to Vulcan.

One of Deep Space Nine’s most loved episodes is an enigma in and of itself. Focusing on just one main character, played by someone other than the normal actor, “The Visitor” highlights the power of DS9’s concept to tell character-driven stories that transcend the usual Star Trek formula. This tale of Jake Sisko’s life after losing his father in a freak accident tugs at the heartstrings for so many viewers—and the intensity of this effect depends on your own life experiences.

In this episode of The Ready Room, we’re joined by Will Nguyen, Phillip Gilfus, and Jeremy Reed to discuss the unusual concept, the performances of Tony Todd and Rachel Robinson, the father-son relationship between Benjamin and Jake Sisko, how Star Trek uses the future time frame, and much more.

In our news segment, we discuss the VFX fixes found only in the Netflix version of TNG, and share our thoughts on the diverse and Star Wars-like aliens found in the Abramsverse.

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Nguyen

Guests

Phillip Gilfus and Jeremy Reed

Editor and Producer

C Bryan Jones

Executive Producers

Matthew Rushing and Norman C. Lao

Associate Producers

Renee Roberts and Zachary Fruhling

Production Manager

Richard Marquez

Content Manager

Will Nguyen

News

TNG Visual Fixes for Netflix (00:06:57)

The Aliens of the Abramsverse: Good or Bad? (00:17:03)

Feature: The Visitor

Synopsis and Initial Thoughts (00:26:34)

The Concept (00:38:40)

Tony Todd as Jake Sisko (00:46:49)

Mental Health in the Future (00:54:22)

Remember (01:02:26)

Jake’s Path (01:08:11)

Father and Son (01:12:49)

Rachel Robinson (01:17:24)

The Future Time Frame (01:22:46)

Star Trek’s Best? (01:32:24)

Final Thoughts (01:39:28)

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When you can start a show with a lengthy cold-open featuring a tuxedo-clad James Darren crooning a jazz standard—and do it on a Cardassian-built space station in the 24th century—you know you’ve got something special. And that’s just what the Deep Space Nine writers did near the end of the show’s sixth season with “His Way.” It was the culmination of a game a romantic cat-and-mouse between Odo and Kira, but also solidified a creative freedom that would ensure that DS9’s final season would not be hindered by a studio that would make the show square.

In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by Will Nguyen, Sue Kaye, and Jeffrey Harlan to discuss how a light bulb with pretty sweet pipes gave DS9 a special twist, what he meant to the Station’s crew, holographic rights, the Odo-Kira relationship, and more.

In our news segment we debate the results of StarTrek.com’s DS9 Captains poll, discuss the first Trek.fm Patrons Roundtable, and remember James Horner, who brought us so many great film scores.

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Will Nguyen

Guests

Sue Kaye and Jeffrey Harlan

Editor and Producer

C Bryan Jones

Executive Producers

Matthew Rushing and Norman C. Lao

Associate Producer

Renee Roberts and Zachary Fruhling

Production Manager

Richard Marquez

Content Manager

Will Nguyen

News

Remembering James Horner (00:04:29)

The first Trek.fm Patrons Roundtable (00:09:01)

Poll: The DS9 Character who would make the best captain is… (00:14:39)

Feature: His Way

Intro and Synopsis (00:23:15)

Initial Thoughts (00:27:18)

DS9 Gets Jazzy: Introducing Vic (00:30:54)

AI and Sentience: An Ethical Quandary (00:39:11)

Three Couples Walk Into a Bar… (00:50:18)

Don’t Be a Square: Prepping Odo for Romance (00:57:31)

A Loving Outcome (01:13:37)

Pairing Off On the Station (01:23:54)

Final Thoughts (01:29:50)

Closing (01:37:02)

Send us your feedback!

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Become a Trek.fm Patron on Patreon and help us keep Star Trek talk coming every week. We have great perks for you at http://patreon.com/trekfm

Sometimes love is staring you right in the face, and other times you have to search for it. Both were the case when Grilka, Quark’s ex-wife, came aboard the Station. Smitten with the unattainable and “glorious” Klingon Lady, Worf decided to win her heart by proxy when he concocted a plan to help Quark reconnect with his lost love. To pull it off, Worf employed the help of the woman whose heart he could have, if only he’d wake up and smell the raktajino.

In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by Matthew Rushing and Will Nguyen to discuss Deep Space Nine’s foray into romantic comedy, “Looking for par’Mach In All the Wrong Places.” We explore its basis in Edmond Rostand’s Cyrano de Bergerac, the comedic timing of Michael Dorn, Terry Farrell, and Armin Shimerman, why Worf is riddled with contradictions, and, of course, the blossoming romantic tendencies of the other O’Briens.

In our news segment we discuss the Certificate of Commendation Star Trek Fan Club and Communicator founder Dan Madsen received from Colorado State Representative Paul Rosenthal, and Paramount’s upcoming release of The Wrath of Khan as a steelbook.

Hosts

Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing

Guest

Will Nguyen

Editor and Producer

Christopher Jones

Associate Producer

Renee Roberts

Production Manager

Richard Marquez

Content Coordinator

Will Nguyen

News

Trek Legislative Caucus Honors Dan Madsen (00:04:19)

Paramount to Release Wrath of Khan Steelbook (00:12:01)

Feature: Looking for par’Mach In All the Wrong Places

Intro and Synopsis (00:19:13)

First Thoughts (00:22:10)

Playing Comedy (00:26:21)

Cyrano de Bergerac In Reverse (00:28:12)

Riddled with Contradictions (00:38:43)

The Kelp of Discontent (00:47:27)

The Other O’Briens (00:57:41)

Final Thoughts (01:09:00)

Closing (01:17:04)

Send us your feedback!

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Become a Trek.fm Patron on Patreon and help us keep Star Trek talk coming every week. We have great perks for you at http://patreon.com/trekfm

When Sisko first arrives at Bajor in “Emissary,” he learns that he is viewed by the Bajorans as a religious icon. It’s an identity he struggles with through much of the series, but eventually comes to terms with. By “Rapture” at the midpoint of Season Five, Sisko has fully embrace prophecy and matters of Bajoran faith are guiding many of his actions. The road to “Rapture” was a long one, however. The easily overlooked linchpin is the third-season episode “Destiny,” a quiet story about scientific cooperation between Cardassia, Bajor, and the Federation.

In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by John Mills and Norman Lao to discuss this short-lived thawing of relations between warring factions, the religious and political forces tugging at the process, how Trakor’s Third Prophecy is a turning point for both Kira and Sisko, how our own views and agendas color our interpretation of Deep Space Nine, and how “Destiny” plays into Sisko’s overall character arc.

In our news segment we discuss Paramount’s decision to airlock Orci, whether or not Frakes could actually take the helm, and what the various rumored directors could mean for the film and Star Trek. We also debate the results of StarTrek.com’s poll about which series made the best use of the holodeck.

Hosts

Christopher Jones and John W. Mills

Guest

Norman C. Lao

Editor and Producer

Christopher Jones

Associate Producer

Renee Roberts

Production Manager

Richard Marquez

Content Coordinator

Will Nguyen

News

Paramount dumps Orci. Could Frakes take command? (00:02:57)

Poll: The Star Trek series that made the best use of the holodeck was... (00:13:24)

Feature: Destiny

Intro and Synopsis (00:19:36)

All In on Faith (00:22:47)

Scientific Cooperation (00:25:46)

Diversity and Interpretation (00:38:06)

Testing Sisko’s Faith (00:47:51)

Agendas and Viewpoints (00:58:44)

Final Thoughts (01:05:04)

Closing (01:10:15)

Send us your feedback!

Twitter: @trekfm

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Contact Form: http://www.trek.fm/contact

Visit the Trek.fm website at http://trek.fm

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Support the Network!

Become a Trek.fm Patron on Patreon and help us keep Star Trek talk coming every week. We have great perks for you at http://patreon.com/trekfm

Star Trek fans often question Sisko’s methods. As Starfleet captains go—at least those we saw as leads—Sisko is perhaps the least likely to do things “by the book.” One act that is cited most often is Sisko’s decision to bring the Romulans into the Dominion War, the deceptions he concocted together with Garak, and the fact that, in the end, he was okay with it. “In the Pale Moonlight” is frequently praised as one of the best episodes of not only DS9 but of Star Trek, yet there are also those who see it as a betrayal of Gene Roddenberry’s vision of the future.

In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by Matthew Rushing, Jeremy Reed, and Jaime Sanchez to discuss “In the Pale Moonlight,” why it remains one of Star Trek’s most controversial yet satisfying moments, and why real life sometimes pushes people to compromise their own values for the greater good.

In our news segment, we discuss the future implications of CBS All Access for Star Trek, find out what’s waiting for you in Larry Nemecek’s Trekland Trunk, explain how you can help get Star Trek creatives on the panels for Destination Star Trek London 2016, and help you create a night of spooky Treks for Halloween.

When a transporter accident turned William Thomas into two separate people, it did more than just get Troi all excited about the prospect of two Rikers. It also set up a great crossover opportunity for TNG and DS9. Once The Next Generation had left the air and Deep Space Nine was in its third season, bringing Jonathan Frakes to the Station made perfect sense. But this was better than a cameo. “Defiant” played off of a unique event from Star Trek’s past to create an episode that added to the story.

In this episode of The Ready Room we're joined by Matthew Rushing, Daniel Proulx, and Eric Brasure to discuss Thomas Riker's visit to DS9, his role in the Maquis, whether or not the writers missed an opportunity by not following up on this story, and we try to figure out why Kira is objects to everything except Riker's seductive glance.

In our news segment we discuss the conclusion to the TNG remastered project, the "All Good Things" Blu-ray, Gates McFadden's unique fundraiser for her next theatrical production, and we welcome Mission Log: A Roddenberry Star Trek Podcast to the network.

Aliens appearing onboard a starship or space station is nothing new to Star Trek. But normally you expect to see a menace like Klingons, the Borg, or a woman in go-go boots and a bling belt—none of whom can spin straw into gold. As Terry J. Erdmann said in the DS9 Companion, “If Wishes Were Horses” could have been just another “mysterious-aliens-play-head-games-with-the-Star Trek-crew” story. Instead it morphed into a delightfully whimsical episode. Or did it?

In this episode of The Ready Room we're joined by Megan Calcote, Von Glitschka, and John Mills to discuss the power of imagination, the demise of baseball, the challenges of working with space emus, the fantasy life of Julian Bashir, and, of course, Rumpelstiltskin.

In our news segment we share our thoughts on The Primate Directive, which is IDW's crossover between Star Trek and Planet of the Apes, comments by Benedict Cumberbatch and Zachary Quinto about Khan possibly appearing in the next film, and we discuss the results of StarTrek.com's poll that asked fans to choose the saddest death scene in Star Trek.

Send us your feedback!

Twitter: @trekfm

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Contact Form: http://www.trek.fm/contact

News

IDW's The Primate Directive combines Star Trek and Planet of the Apes (2:07)

When we visited Deep Space 9 for the very first time, Picard made it clear to Sisko that his mission was to do everything, short of violating the Prime Directive, to prepare Bajor for admission into the Federation. It took five seasons, but finally Bajor's petition was approved and the ceremony was set to take place—at least until the Emissary began having visions. After becoming obsessed with ancient Bajoran symbols, Captain Sisko found the lengendary city of B'hala, lost for 20 millennia, in a matter of days. Along the way he saw past, present, and future as one, drew the ire of Starfleet, and stopped Bajor from signing on the dotted line.

In this episode of The Ready Room we're joined by John Mills, Alice Baker, and Daniel Handlin to discuss the fifth-season episode "Rapture," Sisko's gradual acceptance of his role in the Bajoran religion, Starfleet's discomfort with having a captain walk amongst an alien society as a god, get a rare glimpse into a not (fully) evil Kai Winn, and ponder why admirals can't act.

In our news segment we take a look a NASA's warp ship design concept, the IXS Enterprise, visit the Mirror Universe with Star Trek Continues, and explore the Enterprise-D 8 bits at a time.

War changes people. And that’s no different whether you're in the 21st century or the 24th. Just before DS9 kicked into high gear for its final season, our crew took a quiet moment to reflect in “The Sound of Her Voice,” the penultimate episode of Season Six. It's a unique take on a bottle show that reveals a great deal about the station's crew. In this episode of The Ready Room we're joined by Matthew Rushing, Michael Fisher, and Von Glitshka to discuss the hours spent by the Defiant crew talking to Captain Lisa Cusack, what the conversations tell us about how life changes and the struggle to move on, and the twist of time that allows our heroes to step back—at least for a moment— to a place where the Dominion War had yet to shatter the peace.

In our news segment we look at the pros and cons of Roberto Orci's bid to direct Star Trek 2016, head into fluidic space or Star Trek Online's ninth season, wrap up Enterprise's Blu-ray release, and find out about the independent film Star Trek: Horizon, which is set in the Enterprise time period and tells the story of the Romulan War.

On a Federation starship, you pretty much know what to expect from your surroundings. But what happens when you move into a Cardassian-built ore processing facility? One of the fascinating aspects of Deep Space Nine was the idea that our characters were living in borrowed space. They could never be sure what they might find in the bowels of the Station—or the computer. They found themselves in a dire situation in "Civil Defense" when a dormant computer file triggered a counter-insurgency program installed by the Cardassians during the Occupation. Suddenly their lives were at risk—and the clock was ticking.

In this episode of The Ready Room we're joined by Michael Fisher and John Mills to discuss "Civil Defense," which was born of the desire to slip a straight action story into the middle of DS9's drama. We discuss the mysteries of the Station, the production challenges of the episode, character developments for Dukat and Garak, and debate whether there was any way out of an unsatisfying ending.

In our news segment we check in on two interviews with new Star Trek film writer J.D. Payne, CommBadge's second run at funding, Star Trek Online's arrival on Mac, and an STO Mirror Universe event. Plus, we learn about the starship accessibility requirements of Targ Starfleet officers.

For the Uniform.

We knew from the start that Benjamin Sisko had a temper. After all, he punched Q in the face in the sixth episode of the series. But if you really make Sisko mad he’ll do more than just punch you. He’ll chase you down in a broken ship and then try to punch a holographic projection of you. That’s what happened to Michael Eddington when he decided to escalate the Maquis-Starfleet conflict by sabotaging the Defiant and attacking a Cardassian colony with biogenic weapons. In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by Ben McCormick, Mike Schindler, and Max Hegel to discuss Peter Allan Fields’s futuristic take on Les Misérables, the extreme tactics of both Eddington and Sisko, and how this episode paves the way for another of Fields’s classics, “In the Pale Moonlight.” We also explore the creative communication methods employed in this story, including the holographic communicator and the shouting Ferengi. In news we get into the Halloween mood with our favorite scary or spooky Star Trek episodes, debate the results of a poll that asked which character should have died differently, take a look at a new Starfleet uniforms infographic, and hear a few tidbits about the next Star Trek film.

Homefront / Paradise Lost.

In the 24th century Earth is a paradise. At least that's what we've been led to believe. But paranoia can drive even the residents of paradise to begin burning down the house, and that's what happened at the heart of the Federation when the Changeling threat reached Earth. In this episode of The Ready Room we're joined by Michael Fisher, Max Hegel, and Mike Schindler to discuss the mid-season two-parter that was originally planned as the third-season cliffhanger and fourth-season premiere, what it says about civil rights during times of danger, Gene Roddenberry's utopian vision versus reality, and how Worf's addition to the show changed the story's original concept.

In our news segment we discuss some interesting comments about the Star Trek video game from J.J. Abrams, his decision on directing the next film, which Starfleet engineer would make the best handyman, and our first venture into interstellar space with Voyager 1.

Explorers.

During the second season, DS9 focused its stories more and more on characters. But as Jake grew up it became harder to figure out how to handle the father-son relationship with Sisko. Then, in the third season, the perfect story came along, pitched by show intern Hilary Bader. In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by Matthew Rushing, Drew Stewart, and Ben McCormick to discuss “Explorers” and how inspiration from Heyerdahl’s 1947 voyage aboard the Kon-Tiki was the perfect vehicle for bringing the two Siskos together. We also explore the budding bromance between O’Brien and Bashir, and whether we’re losing something special in our lives as the digital age takes over from the analog.

In our news segment we find Creation Entertainment encouraging another run at the costume record at Star Trek Las Vegas, take a peek at what DS9’s logo could have been, cook breakfast with the Enterprise spatula, take QMx’s NX-01 artisan replica for a flight, and discuss John Eaves’s account of designing Star Trek Into Darkness. Plus, we reveal a cosplay loophole that could help fans shatter that world record set at Destination Star Trek London.

Our Man Bashir.

The holodeck malfunction was a staple of storytelling on The Next Generation. So as the Deep Space Nine writing team set out to chart a different course, they shied away from this perhaps overused plot device. But sometimes a story comes along that it is just too fun not to tell. And if you can find a way to do it that ties into your overall premise, that’s all the better. In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by Michael Fisher and Larry Nemecek to discuss DS9’s romp through the 1960s life of secret agents as Dr. Bashir’s holosuite fantasy goes terribly wrong, yet turns out to be the hero.

In our news segment we find out what special features are in store for us on the Trek Nation special edition DVD, discuss the value and functionality of a Spock coin bank, make ice for the 24th century, find out which Abramsverse actor has been secured for Star Trek Las Vegas, and pay our final respects to Katherine Woodville, who played Natira in “For the World Is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky.”

Trials and Tribble-ations.

When the 30th Anniversary of Star Trek rolled around in 1996, the creative teams of both Deep Space Nine and Voyager were charged with the task of paying homage with a special episode. Inspired by the revolutionary techniques of Forrest Gump, the DS9 writers set out to pen a story that would insert Sisko and his crew into the middle of one of the franchise’s most iconic episodes—“The Trouble with Tribbles.” The result was one of the most memorable moments in Star Trek history. In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by Matthew Rushing, Charlynn Schmiedt, and Larry Nemecek for a look at the making of “Trials and Tribble-ations.” Larry’s firsthand experience on the set delivers a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at what truly is a Valentine to Trek.

In news we look at the debut of TNG HD on iTunes and Amazon Instant Video, a reunion of the full principal cast of Enterprise for the upcoming Season Two Blu-ray release, TV Guide’s 60th Anniversary commemorative covers, Dayton Ward’s picks for 10 of the best Star Trek audiobooks, Cumberbatch talking about John Harrison’s motives, and some of the new Star Trek Into Darkness poster art including spotlight’s on Uhura, Spock, and the Enterprise, plus a Tumblr-inspired Cinemosaic poster. We also reveal our own pick for the most influential TV series of the 1980s… and we think you already know what it is.

Little Green Men.

The alleged crash of a flying saucer near Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947 has stirred controversy and fascination like few events in human history. Despite the revelation in recent years that the debris recovered was actually part of the U.S. military’s Project MOGUL, there are still those who believe it was an encounter with extraterrestrials. It’s a fun theory to kick around, but until DS9 aired Star Trek’s explanation in 1995 no one imagined that it was actually Ferengi who crashed that day.

In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by Michael Fisher to discuss the fan-favourite “Little Green Men,” whether it really lives up to its reputation, and what it has to say about the road from present day to Star Trek future.

In news we look at the newly revealed extended cut of “The Wounded,” an additional show time for the “Best of Both Worlds,” a chance to see yourself on the big screen as a Borg, Ensign Lefler’s run for US Senate, Bye Bye Robot’s new Khan poster, shifts in the release date for Star Trek Into Darkness, and lots of spoilers about the new movie including Peter Weller’s role, lots of jumping off of things, Pike’s problem with Kirk, and the Star Wars flavour of the latest teaser. And did we mention lots of jumping off of things?

Far Beyond the Stars.

In 1998, during Black History Month, Deep Space Nine aired what is one of the most creative stories in the franchise’s history. “Far Beyond the Stars” brought us the tale of a black SF writer struggling to make it in 1950s America. At the same time, the writers wove this period tale together with Sisko’s journey as the Emissary of the Prophets, making a standalone piece serve equally well as a part of the overall story of DS9. In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by Charlynn Schmiedt and Tristan Riddell to discuss “Far Beyond the Stars,” its multiple messages, how it works as straight SF, and we explore the future television careers of the staff of Incredible Tales.

In news we look at a new Bird-of-Prey replica from Diamond Select Toys, tell you how to get your Starfleet Academy class ring, and debate which piece of Star Trek technology we would most like to have. We also delve into the news that J.J. Abrams will be directing Star Wars Episode VII and what this could mean for Star Trek.

Waltz.

From the beginning of Deep Space Nine, the futures of Sisko and Dukat were intertwined. Beginning as a standoff between two commanding officers on different sides of a conflict, this dance evolved into a standoff between two sides in a spiritual endgame. In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by Gwen Maddison and Ben McCormick to discuss the story that set Sisko and Dukat off on their final journeys to the Fire Caves. We also debate whether or not the Federation failed Dukat and if he is truly evil, as Sisko maintains.

In news we cover the fluctuating price of TNG Season 2 on Blu-ray, familiar faces on Broadway, QMX’s new Communicator badge, updates to CBS’s PADD app for iOS, a new Enterprise-D book from Mike and Denise Okuda, and lots of talk about the Star Trek Into Darkness teaser trailer.

From the beginning we knew that, as a joined species, Jadzia Dax was different. Bit by bit we learned more about the path that she had followed to become joined, and about the symbiont inside her. We learned about her previous host, Curzon, and debated whether one host could be held liable for the actions of past hosts. Then, in season three, we took a deeper look at the past lives of Dax beginning with “Equilibrium,” a story that explored how repressed memories can affect Trill and the truth behind the selection process. In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by Mike Schindler and Max Hegel of Commentary Track Stars to discuss “Equilibrium,” the concept of the Trill, and the story’s unusual genesis.

In news we remember Winrich Kolbe and cover a new world record for costumes set at Destination Star Trek London, the TNG Season Two theatrical event, typographic art prints from Generation Gallery, Trek Tones for your iOS device, and we debate which series would make the best movies. Plus, we reveal the truth about what has happened to Greg.

How far would you go to save someone you love? And to what lengths would regret drive you if a second chance were to present itself? Star Trek has debated the value of the individual on many occasions, but the results and consequences have rarely been as personal as in this time travel story with a twist. In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by Ben McCormick and Michael Fisher to discuss the fifth-season DS9 episode “Children of Time.” Part love story, part morality play, part bizarre Star Trek “science,” it’s an episode that rewards—and disappoints—on many levels.

In news we cover a chance to get in on a TNG 25th anniversary mosaic, another Star Trek series coming to Blu-ray, quotable Voyager cards, updates on the Shuttle Galileo restoration project, IDW’s December comics, and we take on Topless Robot’s list of the seven most useless Star Trek characters. Plus, we make an inordinate number of references to Doctor Who, Greg channels Jake Sisko, and we explore the mystique of the non-farming Klingons.

The intricacies of Deep Space Nine are astonishing. By the fourth season, many relationships between members of the crew, residents of the station, and even old enemies had evolved into the rich tapestry that both kept fans engaged and made DS9 less accessible to newcomers. One of the most interesting relationships was the one between Kira and Dukat. Despite having been on opposite sides of a battle, the two found themselves forced to cooperate on more than one occasion. In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by Ben McCormick of Dork Trek and Tristan Riddell of Hyperchannel to discuss the episode “Indiscretion” and how it evolved the Kira-Dukat relationship. Plus, we might even take a look at the slick moves of one Captain Benjamin Sisko, Esq.

In news we cover the TNG cast reunion at Wizard World Austin Comic Con, the return of the Priceline Negotiator, Trek in the Park, the next batch of IDW comics including the conclusion of “The Truth About Tribbles” and the continuation of Brannon Braga’s Hive, the GamesCom trailer for next year’s Abramsverse console game, the cancellation of Star Trek Infinite Space, a fan’s quest to restore the Enterprise 1701-D bridge, and we go over our wish list of officially licensed products—that we’ll probably never see.

When Deep Space Nine kicked off its second season, it did so with a Star Trek first: a three-part story. It was essentially a proof of concept for what DS9 would become. It added some much-needed depth to the series and explored the underlying issues facing Sisko as he carried out his mission of preparing Bajor for admission into the Federation. With a mix of religion, government infighting, corruption, and isolationism, the Circle Trilogy—comprised of “The Homecoming,” “The Circle,” and “The Siege”—is an early preview of the greatness to come for Deep Space Nine. In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by Tristan Riddell to discuss this three-parter and its place within the Star Trek universe.

In news we cover new Star Trek artwork from Bye Bye Robot and Jeff Foster, a joint KRE-O stop-motion animation project between Hasbro and Bad Robot, an extra-special featurette on the TNG Season One Blu-ray, the sale of the original Shuttle Galileo, and your chance to buy—yes buy—Armin Shimmerman. Plus we examine Greg’s iMessage stream of consciousness while watching Star Trek Generations.

Deep Space Nine set itself apart right out of spacedock with a unique take on the Star Trek universe. Building upon a foundation that was perfectly crafted for conflict and deep exploration of humanity, DS9 brought us richly written characters and a willingness to dive into areas previously shied away from by Trek. In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by Matt Hansen of The Delta Quadrant and Ben McCormick of Dork Trek to discuss the DS9 pilot episode “Emissary,” the story that is perhaps that best setup in all of Star Trek history.

In news we cover the journey of James Doohan’s ashes into space, a Klingon invasion of Star Trek London, a chance to purchase the original Galileo 7 shuttlecraft, TNG Season One Blu-ray pricing, Michael Dorn’s Worf movie idea, Cupcake in the next J.J. film, Quinto losing his hair, and some news about the largest gathering of captains on one stage ever conceived.

Dark, sexy, and totally unsubtle. That’s the Mirror Universe. It’s a place where everything you know exists but things aren’t quite as you expect. First introduced in the TOS episode “Mirror, Mirror,” this universe dominated by an evil version of the Federation—the Terran Empire—is one of the most famous creations in Star Trek. Interestingly, however, this portion of Star Trek lives primarily not in TOS but rather in DS9. In this episode of The Ready Room we examine how Deep Space Nine brought us the sequel to “Mirror, Mirror” and how DS9 made this dark universe uniquely its own.

In news we cover new details about the upcoming Star Trek event in London, CBS nixing the plans by New Voyages and Norman Spinrad to produce “He Walked Among Us,” Phase II’s production of the original script for “The Child,” Chris Doohan’s casting as Scotty in Star Trek Continues, GNP Crescendo’s release of the complete score from Star Trek: First Contact, the ThinkGeek inflatable Captain’s Chair, and George Takei on J.J. Abrams and original cast cameos. Plus a beloved Star Wars character makes a surprise appearance on The Ready Room.

When DS9 premiered in 1993 the writers wasted no time in bringing one of TNG’s favorite characters to the show. Q makes his first—and only—appearance in the sixth episode of the series, and the pairing with Sisko did not necessarily work as well as the pairing with Picard. Couched within this unusual Q story is an interesting commentary by one Star Trek series about its predecessor. In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by Brian Finifter and Tristan Riddell as we discuss the episode “Q-Less” as well as Q in general and the nature of the society portrayed in Star Trek.

In news we cover the TNG EXPOsed panel scheduled for the Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo, IDW’s Star Trek/Dr. Who Crossover Comic, IDW’s other May 2012 Star Trek titles, Hasbro’s KRE-O bricks and KREON figures, and movie news and rumors including Chris Pine’s battle with his former agency, Quinto’s comments about the next film’s story, Cumberbatch’s intensity, and Greenwood’s contentment. Plus we reveal another of our rejected Star Trek IV plots and Greg channels Simon Pegg.

Jadzia Dax may be a young Starfleet Lieutenant, but she is also one of the wisest members of the Deep Space 9 crew. Thanks to the seven lifetimes of experience carried by the Dax symbiont, Jadzia is both young and old at the same time. She is Starfleet and yet not Starfleet. The writers of DS9 played this up in the second-season episode “Blood Oath,” which also marked the return of three famous characters from The Original Series—Kor, Koloth, and Kang (and the actors who originally portrayed them). This is a story that played a key role in the early development of the Jadzia character by giving us a look at how Dax had deep roots within the larger Star Trek universe and how Jadzia was tied to that past despite being only 29 years old. In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined Brian Finifter as we discuss “Blood Oath,” how DS9 looks at the world differently from other Star Trek series, and how this story affects how we see Jadzia.

In news we cover the arrival of Star Trek Online Free-to-Play, ThinkGeek’s plush Enterprise, Shatner’s response to George Takei, Scanadu’s Real-life medical tricorder, plus lots of movie news and rumors including the start of shooting, upgrades to engineering, J.J. Abrams’s thoughts on 3-D, Thor Actor Joseph Gatt joining the cast, and whether Benedict Cumberbatch might be playing Sybok? Plus Greg serves up the official show drink—a G&T. (It’s not what you think.)

Deep Space Nine shaved the head in the Season Four premiere “The Way of the Warrior,” but the shears of change started trimming a season earlier. “The Search” is a title with many meanings. It’s Odo’s search for his people as well as the show’s search for its own identity. It’s the birth of the Dominion, the introduction of the Defiant, Ronald D. Moore’s debut on the writing team, the first Romulan involvement in the series, and so much more. In this episode of The Ready Room we discuss the Season Three premiere and how it marks the beginning of DS9’s greatness.

In news we cover the 20th anniversary of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country and recount our memories of the premiere, the Dodd’s Furniture Star Trek Mattress Commercial, movie news and rumors including Benicio Del Toro, Edgar Ramirez, Jordi Mollà, and KHAAAN!!!, the results of our Alice Eve poll, and we’ll preview two more tracks from Five Year Mission’s Year Two. Plus Greg teaches us what kind of sound the Prime Spock Probe makes.

Star Trek has often been prophetic, but few episodes have been more prophetic of today’s world than the DS9 two-parter “Past Tense.” Many parallels between the Occupy movement and the Sanctuary Districts of 2024 can be drawn, though it’s not necessarily a clear-cut comparison. Still this episode can come across as being “ripped from the headlines” today, despite that fact that it first aired in 1995 years ago. In this episode of The Ready Room we discuss “Past Tense” and how it shows where we may be headed as the rift between the rich and poor in our society grows.

In news we cover new movie developments, more confirmed guests for Star Trek Las Vegas 2012, the second TNG HD trailer that shows some side-by-side comparison, Star Trek’s ten least-threatening villains, upcoming IDW Star Trek Ongoing comics, and we preview two more tracks from Five Year Mission’s “Year Two.”

DS9 promised a new kind of Star Trek from the very start, yet the early seasons had more in common with the TNG method of storytelling than the rich and intricate Deep Space Nine we came to love. Just as TNG grew the beard with “The Best of Both Worlds,” so did DS9 with “The Way of the Warrior.” Shaving the head set DS9 on a course for greatness and its place as the most unique series in the Star Trek franchise. In this episode of The Ready Room we discuss “The Way of the Warrior” and how it changed Deep Space Nine. In news we look at the official music video for William Shatner’s cover of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” Five Year Missions “Errand of Mercy,” a comparison of Star Trek technology to real-world progress, Microsoft’s progress in holodeck technology, John de Lancie reading “The Raven,” and the Roddenberry Foundation’s $5 million dollar gift to the Gladstone Institutes for stem cell research.

As The Next Generation began to approach the finish line and with fan support at an all-time high, Paramount knew that they needed to pass the television torch to another crew. In doing so they created a different kind of Trek that was embraced by many fans and shunned by others. In the episode of The Ready Room we're joined by Brian Finifter of Down In Front to take a look at DS9, how the series departed from the classic Star Trek mould, and how it enriched the franchise by telling stories and developing characters in a way we had never seen before.

In our news segment we discuss Mila Kunis’s love of Star Trek, take a look at a lost Larry Nemecek interview with Ira Steven Behr, hear what Mike and Denise Okuda have to say about their role in the new browser-based game Infinite Space, open our ears to a limited-edition collection of unreleased music from TNG, find out what is lined up for the Shore Leave con in Baltimore, look at a Kirk maquette, find out why Pegg is asking for patience on the Star Trek sequel, examine a new technology that may be the first replicator, and play with the new CBS Interactive PADD application for iPad.